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How Small Business Handle Their Money

Canada’s SMEs prefer to manage their finances in-house, according to our survey of 727 companies

Canadian business owners have a do-it-yourself approach to financial management, according to the latest instalment of the American Express Small Business Monitor.

Fully 92% of the 727 owners surveyed (each of whom employs fewer than 100 people) believed they could speak adequately to their businesses’ finances. While 71% said they handle their own bookkeeping, 95% deal with budgeting and forecasting in-house, and 79% handle their own payroll work.

Managing finances internally is not necessarily a drain on employees’ time, with 50% of respondents saying they spend less than five hours a week on it and only 9% taking more than 15 hours weekly.

The one area that remains tricky for many Canadian firms is taxation—only 55% of the businesses polled do their own taxes in-house. At the same time, taxes were ranked the most challenging aspect of business finance by nearly one-fifth of respondents, with the same number rating cash-flow management as most difficult.

Technology is key to respondents’ financial management: 33% use software that makes the process simple; 11% turn to websites to learn the basics.

Small businesses are remaining positive, despite the slow economic recovery. Sixty-three percent are “hopeful” about their firms’ financial future, and 52% said they saw a slight or significant improvement during the last quarter. However, companies are continuing to take a cautious approach, with 66% willing to take only moderate risks, versus just 6% prepared to attempt significant risks.

Here are other key findings of the AMEX Monitor, co-produced by PROFIT and Canadian Business.